On October 3, 2023, at approximately 12:36 a.m., 39-year-old Ricky "Rooster" Pernell McMillian Jr. was fatally shot during a carjacking in the 200 block of B Street in Fayetteville, North Carolina. McMillian had recently acquired a white Dodge Challenger Hellcat with a black hood and was in the neighborhood to show it to friends. As he parked, two individuals approached; one, armed with a firearm, demanded his keys. After McMillian complied, he was shot multiple times.
The assailants then fled the scene, one driving the stolen Challenger and the other following in a Dodge Charger.
McMillian was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. His death marked a significant loss for his family, including his 4-year-old son and fiancée. The incident also highlighted ongoing concerns about crime in the B Street area, which residents describe as plagued by drug activity and violence. McMillian's grandmother, Annie Moore, expressed grief over the loss and urged local authorities to address the area's safety issues.
In the subsequent investigation, authorities utilized surveillance footage and witness testimonies to identify two suspects: 21-year-old Tyliqe Williams McNeill of Fayetteville and 20-year-old Ian Makhi Stephens of Pinebluff. Both were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and conspiracy. Stephens faced an additional charge of larceny of a motor vehicle. The stolen Dodge Challenger was later found in a remote area of Hoke County, bearing bullet holes and signs of an attempted arson.
The arrests provided some measure of relief to McMillian's grieving family and the concerned Fayetteville community. However, the incident underscored the persistent challenges of addressing violent crime in the area. Community members continue to call for increased efforts to improve safety and prevent such tragedies from recurring.
